Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Last week, I began telling you about my recent trip to Germany. I received gifts from this experience that I felt should be shared. I stayed in a part of the country that has very strong Catholic roots and I wanted to share some of this history and part of my spiritual journey with you.
My story began even a year before, when I first visited the city of Munster. I have a friend who is rector of the diocesan seminary there and I spent quite a bit of time in the cathedral across the street. It was then that I first became acquainted with Cardinal Clemens August von Galen. Cardinal von Galen was the bishop at the cathedral during the Second World War. His portrait is pictured in the entranceway to the cathedral, along with a number of other people connected to Munster who are in the process of being canonized as saints. Cardinal von Galen was beatified last October.
Cardinal von Galen is buried inside the cathedral in a side chapel, and there is a beautiful marker there from when Pope John Paul II visited his grave some years ago. Within the cathedral, there are pictures and booklets one can read to learn more about the Cardinal's life. I was deeply inspired by the life of this man.
During the war, Munster was under attack by the allies. Eventually, the cathedral was almost completely destroyed (it was later rebuilt). In the midst of this destruction from outside foes, Cardinal von Galen was a voice against the enemy within. He spoke out against the Nazis, meeting with other church leaders and writing many letters of protest. In 1941, he preached a series of sermons which resulted in the Nazis removing some of his priests and seminarians and taking them away to concentration camps. The courage of this man to preach the Gospel so forcefully in the face of destruction and such personal sorrow has made a permanent impact upon me.
Besides his courage and his faith, I found great wisdom in Cardinal von Galen. Some of you may know that I am deeply committed to what is commonly known as a consistent ethic of life. This language, used by the United States Catholic Bishops, is often attributed to the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin. Having a consistent ethic of life means being concerned about the connection that exists between all of the life issues. The U.S. Bishops began writing about this in the 1970's, with the release of the U.S. Bishop's pastoral letter, The Challenge of Peace. Here, for the first time, the bishops began to link concern for war with concern for abortion and other things that destroy human life. Cardinal Bernardin taught for years about the breadth of the linkages between many life issues: war, abortion, the death penalty, euthanasia, poverty, etc. All of these issues are not the same. However, if we are truly "pro-life" as Catholics, then we should respect all of human life under all circumstances. Human life is sacred and has dignity because we are all created in the image of God. Cardinal Bernardin wrote that we must be concerned not only for those things which destroy life but also for those things which diminish life because eventually, these things can become life-destroying.
I studied the writings of Cardinal Bernardin for many years. When I first became acquainted with Cardinal von Galen, I found that he had been writing in this way many years before. In his sermons, von Galen talked about the evils of war and the destruction of human life by the Nazis. He spoke against euthanasia and the mistreatment of the mentally ill. Cardinal von Galen, like Cardinal Bernardin many years later, preached about the value of human life and the fact that if any in a society are maltreated because they are considered non- productive, than all human beings are at risk.
Last year, when I was in Munster for the first time, I told my friend how impressed I was with the life of Cardinal von Galen. He asked me if I would like to see the house in which Cardinal von Galen grew up. Cardinal von Galen was from a family of nobility and he grew up in the family castle, located in the town of Dinklage (pronounced dink'-laag-ah), which was not far from Munster. In the 1940's, the von Galen family gave the castle to some Benedictine Sisters who had been displaced when their property was taken away by the Nazis. The castle is now a Benedictine monastery where Sisters still live today. Last year when I visited, my friend had to go the monastery for a meeting with the abbess about an upcoming retreat for seminarians. He asked if I would like to go with him and I did not want to miss the chance! It was on this first trip to Germany that I met Mother Maire (pronounced Maura). Originally from Ireland, Mother Maire is the abbess of the monastery. I had only the briefest meeting with her then but was immediately drawn to her, knowing intuitively that she was a deeply spiritual woman. I wrote to her some months ago and asked if she would lead me on a retreat. She agreed, and that is what brought me back to Germany this year.
I will conclude this story next week, sharing with you what it was like to be at the monastery with the Sisters. In the meantime, have a good week, and God bless you.
Mary Foley, Pastoral Life Coordinator
Religious Education News
Our annual collection of Easter Basket items for Marillac
House begins this Wednesday, March 1, and continues on all the
Wednesdays of Lent. There will be a "basket" in the hall of
school for donations of small stuffed animals, candy, toys, etc.,
anything that would be appropriate for an Easter Basket. Please
be generous.
Thank You
The 8th grade Religious Education students who led the bake
sale last weekend would like to thank everyone who helped make it
such a wonderful success. We raised more than $300 that will be
going to buy school supplies for 5th grade students at Lincoln
School in West Aurora. We know that with your help we are making
a difference.
Mark your calendar:
Wednesday, March 1 - Ash Wednesday - No Regular Class - Parents
are to bring their children for a Distribution of Ashes
Service at 4:00 p.m. in Church or for Mass in the evening.
Saturday, March 18 - Confirmation Final Interviews - 9 a.m. to
Noon in school.
Saturday, March 18 - Family Mass at 5:00 p.m.
If you have questions or need more information, please call
Mary Ann Woods at the REO, 832-8962.
Christian Education Commission
Please Note: There is no class Ash Wednesday, March 1. Be sure
to bring your children to the Distribution of Ashes Service at
4:00 p.m. in Church or to Mass with Distribution of Ashes at 7:00
p.m.
Benedictine University faculty
and students assist low-income taxpayers
Saturdays, March 4 & 25, from 9 a.m.-noon
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is
provided through the Internal Revenue Service and is sponsored by
the Notre Dame Club of Greater DuPage County.
Individuals with income less than $37,000 who are
interested in receiving help with the preparation of their 2005
Federal and Illinois State tax returns should bring
identification and tax information such as W-2 forms, 1099s, and
last year's tax return to the VITA site in the Nichols Library in
downtown Naperville.
Council of Catholic Women
"Woman of the Year" Nominations
Nominations for Mary Queen of Heaven "Woman of the Year" will be
held the weekend of March 4/5. Nominations slips will be distributed
in the pews. All ladies, ages 18 and older, will be asked to nominate
a woman they feel leads a life of faith and love and who has given
generously of her time and talent to the various ministries and
organizations in our parish. They will also be asked to give a reason
why they feel their nominee should be chosen. To be eligible for the
"Woman of the Year," nominees must be MQH parishioners, not on the
parish staff, over 18 years of age, and not have held the title in the
last 10 years. The following weekend, March 11/12, information on the
nominees will appear in the bulletin to assist you in electing the
"Woman of the Year."
The election for the "Woman of the Year" will be held the weekend
of March 18/19. The lady chosen will be invited to the 28th Annual
"Woman of the Year" Mass and Luncheon on Saturday, April 29th, at the
Cathedral of St. Raymond and also honored at our "Ladies Night Out"
dinner in June. Please pray and think about this and be prepared to
make your nomination on March 4/5.
Forty Years of Dialogue:
The Catholic Church and Ecumenical and Interreligious
Relations
Forty years ago, at the Second Vatican Council, the
Catholic bishops issued a Decree on Ecumenism that promoted
dialogue between Catholics and Christians of other churches and
ecclesiastical communities. They also issued a Declaration on the
Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions. These
documents have formed the basis for the Church's positions and
actions on these issues for the last 40 years.
The Adult Education and Spirituality Committee and the
Peace and Justice Committee proudly present Sr. Joan McGuire,
O.P., director of the Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious
Affairs in the Archdiocese of Chicago, who will provide an
overview of the implementation of these two historic documents
within the Catholic Church during the last 40 years. The
presentation will be in Barrett Hall on Tuesday, March 7, at 7:00
p.m. Please contact the Church office, 279-5700, or Dick Reed,
834-4840, if you have any questions. All are welcome.
Prayer Requests
To pray for our sick is an important privilege of our
parish family. We hope that you will pray for these persons
every day, alone or as a family.
Pam Bondfide Heather Brennan
Katherine Brennan Kathleen Bryers
Doresa Brugler Pat Caffarelli
Rose Caffarelli Kathy Calzante
Dennis Ciancio Cosmore Ciancio
Family of Cynthia Catalano Paul Cirone
Rhonda Colletti Margaret Conroy
Baby Samantha Dobrowolski Trudi Dolato
Dino Fuggitti Anna Heffel
Jen Huwalt Tom Huwalt
Pat Holmes Michelle Humann
Maureen James Tom Janicke
Richard Johnson Irene Kmieciak
Bernadette Kohn Tim Kowalski
Baby Emma Lynde Robert Manion
Bobbi Nannini Geri Pstrzoch
Baby Faith Reid Jess Smith
Karen Sutkus Cathy Ward
Rest In Peace: Nancy Moroney
If you or a family member would like to be included in our
prayers, please call the rectory at 279-5700. Also, please let us
know when a name should be removed.
Rachel's Vineyard Retreat
A Rachel's Vineyard Retreat for post abortive men and
women, sponsored by the Joliet Diocesan Life Office is scheduled
for March 3-5, 2006 and September 22-24, 2006 and will be held at
the St. Charles Borromeo Pastoral Center, in Romeoville.
Confidentiality and privacy will be strictly observed. To
learn more about a Rachel's Vineyard Retreat or to register,
contact Kay Corcoran at 815-838-7171. For more information
and a list of retreats in other locations:
www.rachelsvineyard.org or call the toll free national hotline at
1-877-HOPE-4ME.
L.O.S.S.
Up-Coming 10 Session Group
The L.O.S.S. (Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide)
Program provides services to those who are grieving a death by
suicide of a family member or close friend. Includes 8 weekly
sessions and 2 monthly follow-up meetings for the newly bereaved
and/or new members:
Wednesdays, April 5 thru May 31
June 7 and July 5
At Holy Spirit Church, in Naperville
We need at least 10 people signed up to convene a group.
Call 1-800-240-7011 to register. Deadline to register is March
29. L.O.S.S. is a program provided by Catholic Charities.
CCW MEETING
Tuesday, February, 28, at 7:30 p.m.
The monthly CCW Board Meeting will be held at the home of
Mary Hagerty, 307 Highland Avenue. All women of the parish are
invited to attend.
For additional information or if you have any questions
call Mary Connelly at 782-7626.
50th Anniversary Celebration
Mary Queen of Heaven's 50th Anniversary Celebration begins Sunday,
April 2, at the 10:30 a.m. Mass. Following Mass all are invited to
fellowship in Barrett Hall and to visit rooms in the school building
which will contain memorabilia from the past and also the present.
The Anniversary Committee meets each month working on plans that
will take place throughout the year and culminate with a closing
celebration in April 2007. Much help and many hands are needed to work
on the various events that are scheduled, and we invite you to join us
and offer your expertise. Watch the bulletin for our next scheduled
meeting and a calendar of events for the year.
We are still looking for help in these particular areas:
Memorabilia from the past (pictures, booklets, newspaper
articles, video's, etc.). Perhaps you are one of the founding
parishioners and can recall an event or a series of events from the
past and would like to share it with us like Rosalyn Adair, who sent us
the following:
"I remember when talk of our new church was going around-Father
O'Keefe was to be the pastor. He had a parish home at Grantley and
Highview, I think, and Mass was said in the mornings in his basement.
We started having Mass on Sundays at St. Emerson (Emerson School) in
the gym. What a hard floor for kneeling!! I also can clearly remember
the day Bishop McNamara turned over the first shovel full of dirt for
the construction of Mary Queen. Many of us stood on farmland and
watched. As the building progressed Fr. O'Keefe would take us through
the building to see the progress being made. We had wonderful times
having breakfasts in parishioners backyards, fashion shows at the
V.F.W. with our parishioners modeling, dinner dances at the Glendale
Heights Country Club and Saturday night parties at the Leston's home on
Addison Street. Mrs. Murphy was the backbone of M.Q.H. at that time
and she was a super baker always supplying us with goodies for our Bake
Sales. I was in charge of our very first Bazaar."
A record of all pictures, newspaper articles, video's etc. will
be kept and you can be assured of receiving them back after our
celebration is over. Please share your memorabilia or memories with us
so that we can provide a history of our parish from the past to the
present.
Names and addresses of previous parishioners or school alumni are
extremely important so we can invite them to our celebration on April
2, and the other events scheduled throughout the year. For more
information or questions: contact Sheila Reiter 833-6657 or Ellen
Walker 279-4021.
Recipe Book: We are still accepting recipes for our 50th
Anniversary Cookbook. Recipe forms are available in the vestibule of
church. They can be placed in the basket in the vestibule or sent to
the rectory to the attention of Mary Nanak (530-4502) or Ellen Walker
(279-4021).
Yoga Class at Mary Queen of Heaven
8:30 p.m. Wednesdays
A new class starts for three (3) weeks
March 8, 15, and 22
For all 3 classes, $12 per person or
3 classes, $18 per family
(parents, children, siblings, couples, etc.)
All monies will be donated to Mary Queen of Heaven
Call 941-7224
Time for some Youth Group News
Family Dessert night was a huge success. Thank you to all
our families that participated! We had a great time.
The Lock-In Is Scheduled
Friday, April 28, at 7 PM.
Saturday, April 29, at 9:30 AM.
Everyone attending must have a permission slip. The fee is
$15. There are permission slips available in the religious
education office or from Mrs. Gusloff (832-4348). Our destiny
members have been working very hard to make sure this year's
lock-in is as great or better than last year. Don't miss your
opportunity to participate.
Our next meetings - Sunday, March 5
Destiny will met at 8:30 a.m. in the school building. Wings to
Heaven in Barrett Hall 6-8 p.m.
We hope you will choose to join us!
If you ever have any questions about
our youth groups, please feel free to call
Kathleen Gusloff 832-4348
or email her at The5ofgus@aolcom.
We need your help!!!
Service Project for soldiers in Iraq
Some of the 8th graders at R.E. are collecting items and
donating them to the Yellow Ribbon Support Group because soldiers
aren't supplied with daily items. Some things you can bring in
are:
* Plastic disposable razors,
* Travel size shaving cream, deodorant, mouth wash, and hand
sanitizer
* Individually packaged peanuts, raisins, beef jerkey, rice
krispie treats, breakfast bars and pop tarts
There will be a box at the back of church on the weekends
of March 4/5 and March 11/12 for your donations. Thanks for your
support!
Parish News
The Lenten Season
The Lenten Season begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes with the
Church's celebration of the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy
Thursday.
Fast & Abstinence Regulations
1. Everyone 14 years of age or over is bound to abstain from meat on
Ash Wednesday and all the Friday's of Lent.
2. On Ash Wednesday and good Friday, only one full meatless meal is
allowed for those ages 18 - 59. Two other meatless meals,
sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to each
one's needs, but together they should not equal another full meal.
Eating between meals is not permitted on these two days, but
liquids, including milk and fruit juices, are allowed. When health
or ability to work would be seriously affected, the law does not
oblige the person.
3. To disregard completely the law of fast and abstinence is sinful.
4. Lent is the principal season of penance in the Christian year. All
of the faithful are strongly urged to devote themselves to prayer,
fasting, and almsgiving.
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday is a day of universal fast and abstinence. During
Mass, ashes are blessed and imposed after the homily. When distributed
outside of Mass, a Liturgy of the Word is celebrated, the rite of
blessing is performed and, after the imposition of ashes, the
celebration concludes with the general intercessions, the Lord's Prayer
and a hymn.